Karen O’Donnell Clarke
Adaptive Yoga Pioneer and Yoga Heals Us Founder
Karen O’Donnell Clarke, ERYT500, C-IAYT, RCYT, YACEP, IYT, TIYT was a lifelong student of yoga from the age of 13. She initially discovered yoga through the only yoga book in the library! She was immediately drawn to the philosophy and deep interconnection with nature and all beings. Attending yoga classes during her years as a distance runner, two pregnancies supported mindful living and benefits to her body and mind. Karen attained advanced certifications from Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health and Integrative Yoga Therapy (IYT), Yoga of the Heart and Yoga for the Special Child. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1997, she found the practices and philosophy of yoga helped her stay healthy and nearly symptom free for over a dozen years. When she was diagnosed and treated for metastatic fallopian (ovarian) cancer in 2012, she reported how much yoga helped her remain sane through over 11 years of treatment including multiple versions of chemotherapy.
Karen acknowledged how her yoga practice evolved toward a more contemplative and meditative practice to meet the needs of an ever-changing body and the corresponding mental and emotional adjustments. She shared, “I have learned first hand about the healing power of yoga and the need to modify and adapt when the body says so. I know that I would not be as healthy as I am without the benefit of yoga. Yoga has been part of my life since my yoga first class in 1969.”
Karen was part of the accessible yoga movement before there was one. She trained yoga teachers in adaptive yoga techniques including Chair Yoga from 2003 all around the U.S. and online via Zoom until 2 weeks prior to her transition. Karen O’Donnell Clarke, C-IAYT, E-EYT500, RCYT. Certified Kripalu Yoga, Integrative Yoga Therapy, Yoga of the Heart, Yoga for the Special Child, and Trauma Informed Yoga Therapy (TIYT) will remain in the hearts, yoga practices and teaching of hundreds of students and yoga teachers.
Susanne Murtha
Yoga Heals Us Director​
Hi! I’m Susanne Murtha. I’m passionate about helping others live healthier, happier lives. I am a motivated lifelong learner in both Eastern and Western perspectives on health. A yoga teacher since 1996 and founder of Yoga In The Adirondacks where I taught for 18 years. I’ve been blessed to know Karen O'Donnell Clarke, founder of Yoga Heals Us since our early days at Kripalu and from my annual trips to Rhode Island before moving to the Ocean State in 2015. I completed her trainings: Teaching Adaptive Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis in 2007 and Chair Yoga for Everybody in 2020. In 2022 and 2023 I co-lead Chair Yoga for Everybody. Since Karen asked me about continuing her classes and Chair Yoga training, I have been honored do my best to continue her legacy and the Yoga Heals Us community.​
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I have been blessed to learn from many exceptional teachers including Adrienne Jamiel, Richard Miller, Joan Ruvinsky, Joseph LePage, Gary Kraftsow, Genevieve Yellin, Doug Keller and from numerous Kripalu teachers including Jonathan Foust, Sudha Lundeen, Stephen Cope, and so many others from my days as an assistant and staff manager in over 70 residential and intensive programs alongside my 200-hour, 300-hour yoga trainings. I pay homage to my teachers in studies at the Kripalu School of Ayurveda including Dr. Vasant Lad, Claudia Welch, John Douillard, Dr. Joshi, Scott Blossom, Dr. Rosy and classmate Larissa Hall Carlson.
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My training includes:
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Certified Yoga Therapist, C-IAYT
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E-RYT500 and YACEP with Yoga Alliance
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Kripalu Yoga Teacher Professional Level, 500 hours
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Integrative Yoga Therapy with Joseph LePage, former mentor
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Kripalu School of Ayurveda & Ayurveda Yoga Specialist,
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Dharmic Yoga Teacher Training with a specialization in Women’s Health and Wellness with Adrienne Jamiel
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Trauma Informed Yoga Therapy with Genevieve Yellin
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Integrative Restoration Institute (iRest) Level 3 Certified
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Mindful Yoga Therapy for Veterans
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Therapeutic Wisdom of Yoga with Doug Keller
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Pranayama Course with Joseph Lepage & Karin Silberberg
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Bachelor’s Degree in Community and Human Services specializing in Health Promotion
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American Council on Exercise (ACE), Personal Trainer
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NASM Women’s Fitness Specialization
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National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach
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Certified Pain Management Coach
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Therapeutic Exercise (Yoga and Pilates) for Older Adults
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Integrative Approaches to Pelvic Pain in Women, University of Arizona College of Medicine
Raquel R. Currah
Yoga Heals Us Certified Instructor & Physical Therapist
Raquel has enjoyed a career as a Physical Therapist since 1992, working across diverse healthcare settings including rehabilitation centers, home care, and community programs. With over three decades of expertise, she specializes in supporting individuals in navigating complex neurological conditions and challenging medical diagnoses.
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Yoga became a transformative force in Raquel's life and practice when she took her first class in 1995. Since then, her yoga journey has been rich and multifaceted. She has taught anatomy for yoga teacher training programs and completed her yoga teacher training certification in 2012 (RYT200). Her continued education includes specialized training in Trauma Informed Yoga Therapy, Adaptive Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis, Chair Yoga Teacher Training, Love Your Brain Yoga for Health Professionals, Yoga Nidra techniques, and mindfulness meditation.
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Her commitment to professional development is reflected in her extensive training and specialized certifications, which include advanced approaches to stroke and brain injury rehabilitation, spinal cord injury treatment, vestibular care, dementia support, and fitness programming for aging adults. Raquel's credentials also encompass comprehensive training in Pilates and yoga instruction. Her teaching experience is diverse, spanning from university-level instruction to professional continuing education courses, group exercise classes, and personalized one-on-one client sessions. This breadth of educational expertise demonstrates her ability to communicate complex concepts and adapt her teaching style to various learning environments and needs.
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Raquel's therapeutic approach is characterized by compassionate engagement and realistic optimism to help her clients find joy and resilience in their current experiences. Since 2021, she has provided a virtual adaptive yoga program for rehabilitation patients throughout Texas. Her collaboration with Yoga Heals Us allows her to offer personalized and group virtual yoga sessions, educational resources, and mentorship to individuals seeking to thrive after injury or illness.
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Based in Austin, Texas, Raquel enjoys spending time with her husband, dog and 3 adult children. When not supporting her clients, she finds joy in morning coffee rituals, creative pursuits like drawing and watercolor painting, tending her garden, and hiking with her dog.
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Raquel is grateful for her teachers who inspire and guide her practice.
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Genevieve Yellin of Sundara Yoga Therapy and Trauma Informed Yoga Therapy
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Karen O'Donnell Clarke of Therapeutic Adaptive Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis
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Susanne Murtha of Chair Yoga for Every Body
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Love Your Brain Yoga for Health Professionals​
Accessibility Statement for Yoga Heals Us
CONFORMANCE
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) defines requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. It defines three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA. Yoga Heals Us is partially conformant with WCAG 2.0 level AA. Partially conformant means that some parts of the content do not fully conform to the accessibility standard.
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FEEDBACK
We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of Yoga Heals Us. Please let us know if you encounter accessibility barriers on Yoga Heals Us: connect@yogahealsus.com
